The Minnesota Timberwolves have one of the most exciting collections of young players on an NBA roster. Every Thursday, FOX Sports North tracks the progress of those on the Timberwolves who are in their first or second season in the league.
This is the ninth edition of the 2015-16 Timberpups Tracker, covering Jan. 7-13.
PER -- Player Efficiency Rating: A measure of per-minute production standardized such that the league average is 15.
TS% -- True Shooting Percentage: A measure of shooting efficiency that takes into account 2-point field goals, 3-point field goals, and free throws.
USG% -- Usage Percentage: An estimate of the percentage of team plays used by a player while he was on the floor.
ORtg -- Offensive Rating: An estimate of points produced per 100 possessions.
DRtg -- Defensive Rating: An estimate of points allowed per 100 possessions.
VORP -- Value over Replacement Player: A box score estimate of the points per 100 TEAM possessions that a player contributed above a replacement-level (-2.0) player, translated to an average team and prorated to an 82-game season.
ANDREW WIGGINS (age 20, second season)
Statistical season averages (last week): 20.8 points (26.5), 3.8 rebounds (4.0), 1.7 assists (2.3), 0.6 blocks (0.25), 34.9 minutes (36.5), 43.8 FG% (50.7), 25.5 3PT% (37.5)
Advanced stats, season: 16.0 PER, .519 TS%, 28.8 USG%, 101 ORtg, 110 DRtg, -0.2 VORP
Notable: Wiggins gave yet more credibility to the idea of the "revenge game" on Friday, torching the Cavaliers for 35 points in a 125-99 loss. Wiggins has kept up the pace ever since, leading the Wolves in scoring in each of their last four games.
ZACH LAVINE (age 20, second season)
Statistical season averages (last week): 12.4 points (6.3), 3.1 rebounds (4.0), 3.2 assists (2.8), 0.1 blocks (0.00), 23.3 minutes (18.3), 41.0 FG% (34.6), 31.9 3PT% (60.0)
Advanced stats, season: 13.7 PER, .499 TS%, 27.7 USG%, 97 ORtg, 109 DRtg, -0.1 VORP
Notable: After breaking out of his latest slump with a 21-point effort against the Mavericks, LaVine fell off once again on Wednesday, posting just two points, two rebounds and four assists in a close loss to the Houston Rockets.
ADREIAN PAYNE (age 24, second season)
Statistical season averages (last week): 2.6 points (1.0), 2.1 rebounds (1.0), 0.5 assists (0.5), 0.3 blocks (0.00), 9.8 minutes (9.0), 38.5 FG% (12.5), 38.1 3PT% (0.00)
Advanced stats, season: 6.4 PER, .454 TS%, 16.4 USG%, 83 ORtg, 105 DRtg, -0.2 VORP
Notable: Coach Sam Mitchell gave Payne more than 16 minutes of playing time in a loss to the Mavericks on Sunday, but didn't have much to show for it. Payne picked up just two assists and a pair of defensive rebounds in that game, and didn't play against Oklahoma City or Houston.
KARL-ANTHONY TOWNS (age 20, first season)
Statistical season averages (last week): 15.7 points (25.5), 9.4 rebounds (9.0), 1.2 assists (2.0), 1.7 blocks (0.50), 29.1 minutes (30.5), 52.7 FG% (55.3), 35.5 3PT% (50.0)
Advanced stats, season: 21.3 PER, .576 TS%, 24.1 USG%, 108 ORtg, 102 DRtg, 1.1 VORP
Notable: Towns continues to make his case for the league's rookie of the year award as the NBA winds its way to midseason. The former No. 1 overall pick logged back-to-back double-doubles against the Thunder and the Rockets, while topping 20 points against Cleveland and Dallas.
NEMANJA BJELICA (age 27, first season)
Statistical season averages (last week): 4.6 points (4.5), 3.6 rebounds (3.0), 1.3 assists (0.8), 0.4 blocks (0.25), 18.5 minutes (17.0), 44.1 FG% (66.7), 38.0 3PT% (75.0)
Advanced stats, season: 10.0 PER, .565 TS%, 11.2 USG%, 111 ORtg, 107 DRtg, 0.4 VORP
Notable: Bjelica turned in a solid week all around, as he connected on five consecutive three-pointers that spanned losses to the Mavericks, Thunder and Rockets, including a triple at the buzzer that gave Minnesota a 24-23 lead over Houston in the first quarter on Wednesday.
TYUS JONES (age 19, first season)
Statistical season averages (last week): 3.0 points (0.0), 1.7 rebounds (0.0), 1.6 assists (0.0), 0.1 blocks (0.0), 10.9 minutes (0.0), 35.5 FG% (0.0), 50.0 3PT% (0.0)
Advanced stats, season: 8.4 PER, .407 TS%, 18.8 USG%, 83 ORtg, 107 DRtg, -0.1 VORP
Notable: Jones was inactive in all four of the Wolves' games this week.
